6 Ways Game Developers are Leveraging Big Data

by BDW Editor on January 13, 2016

Like most industries, game developers are looking for ways to keep current customers satisfied, bring new customers into the fold, and to increase revenue for their products. Also like other industries, game developers are just now learning what big data has to bring to the table. Online gaming (including game apps) gives game developers the ability to track and monitor players, their interactions, and their behaviors. Using this and other data, developers can then improve their products for better play, more players, and higher earnings. Here are several ways that developers are taking advantage of big data.

1. Learn What Features Gamers Do and Don’t Like

Gamers are not a totally homogeneous group. Game lovers range from the very young to the surprisingly mature and include all backgrounds, professions, and educational levels. Big data can help you identify the demographics most interested in your particular game.

What do players enjoy doing and what do they tend to avoid when playing your games? What do players like to talk about and share on social media during and after playing your game? This data is key to building games that have lots of the features that keep gamers coming back for more.

2. Keep Players Playing for Longer Periods of Time

What factors lead to gamers sticking with your gameplay for longer stretches of time? Conversely, can you identify features or factors that cause players to quit prematurely? Big data can track gameplay and identify what it takes to keep players engaged longer and what triggers them to come back more often to continue playing.

3. Get New Players Interested in Your Game

Knowing what your current players are like helps you determine where and how you can find new players who will enjoy your products. For instance, is your demographic the young male crowd, or are they the high-achieving professional bunch? Once you know this, you can determine where to place your ads and what channels can be used to target demographics that are most likely to enjoy playing your game.

4. Find Ways to Increase Monetization and Revenue

What are your players willing to pay for? Perhaps you can increase revenue by monetizing the ability to play with other players online, or you might have better success inviting them to purchase more playing time or extra features in the game. Big data can help you determine the best monetization models for your game and players.

5. Remain Compliant With Regulations

What compliance issues are you up against? Big data can help you stick within the rules and stay out of trouble.

Is your organization subject to regulatory requirements that challenge you to make sure your game isn’t doing any harm? Maybe you have to prove to regulators that your players aren’t spending too much money to play or aren’t putting their livelihoods in jeopardy with the amount of time they’re playing. Big data can help you monitor these issues, identify players who are at risk, and staying compliant with the regulations.

6. Build Better Games for the Future

What themes and features attract the most interest from your gamers? These are likely the things that your next big gaming sensation is going to be built on. Use big data to determine what trends you can identify to create more successful products for next year and the year after that.

Big data week is dedicated to helping people like you learn to use big data to improve game development and do better business.